Ken Casellas | Photo: Gloucester Park Harness Racing
Ace reinsman Shannon Suvaljko had the choice of three drives in the Terra Mech Leasing Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night and has given punters a valuable lead by opting to handle Sound Wave, who is poorly drawn out wide at barrier eight, ahead of Yankee Lincoln and Luke Attack.
Sound Wave is racing in good form for owner-trainer Simon Lowings and was unlucky when fifth behind Loch Tay, who rated 1.57.8 over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Tuesday night this week. He was restrained from barrier six and raced four back on the pegs before being blocked for a clear passage in the closing stages.
Three starts before that performance Sound Wave was driven by Suvaljko when he raced in the breeze and finished determinedly to win from Soho Vesper Lind, rating 1.57.7 over 2130m.
Yankee Lincoln and Luke Attack are handily drawn, with the former starting from the inside of the back line and Luke Attack on his immediate outside.
Owner-trainer Peter Tilbrook has engaged Chris Voak to drive Yankee Lincoln, while owner-trained David Simmonds has called on Chris Lewis to handle Luke Attack who was driven by Suvaljko when he finished strongly to win from Her Presence over 2130m at Gloucester Park two starts ago.
Sound Wave is likely to receive strong opposition from Candy Apple (barrier seven) and Manhattan Moon (nine). Candy Apple, prepared by Michael Munro, was driven by Toby Lynn when she was untroubled to set the pace from barrier one and win comfortably from Sweet Vivienne at a 1.57.5 rate over 2130m last Friday night.
Four-year-old Manhattan Moon, trained by Kevin Charles and driven by his son Hayden, was an impressive winner at a 1.54.5 rate over 1730m two starts ago, and he is capable of overcoming the disadvantage of starting from the outside barrier.
Suvaljko also has given punters a good lead by choosing to drive the Mike Reed-trained Dark Eyes ahead of stablemates Lion Queen and Quinton in the 2536m Quayside Transport Pace.
Dark Eyes, who will begin from the prized No. 1 barrier, is in sound form and has been placed at three of his past four starts. Toby Lynn will drive Lion Queen from barrier seven, and Kyle Symington has been engaged for Quinton, who is ideally drawn at barrier two on the back line.